Thanksgiving School of 2003

The graduate students in the University of San Diego Master of Business Administration Fall Semester Project Management class for 2003 had some unusual problems this year that created a need for an alternative type of project.  First of all, the size of this year's Project Management (GBA-570Y) class was unusually small, only four students, making our typical home renovation project a bit large for them to take on by themselves.  The smaller size of the class also placed some limitations upon the complexity of the project planning and fund raising that would be possible due to the much smaller group of students able to devote their time to that.  Bearing those issues in mind, Dr. Barbara Withers, the class' professor, suggested an entirely different type of project - a classroom renovation at a local middle school that was in use by SAY San Diego and the Linda Vista Leaders Organization.  This classroom was a large multipurpose room that had not een renovated by the San Diego School District at this fifty year old school, and was in desperate need of some TLC.

Part of the project, as all good projects would, includes Project Risk Management. During the Project Team's brainstorming for this project, one of the most significant risks that was identified was the potential for lead based paint to exist on the walls that were to be treated as part of the major aspect of the renovation.  When the classroom painted surfaces were tested by the project team using standard lead test kit protocols, lead was identified on most surfaces.  The abatement of lead paint requires special certifications and went beyond the possible scope of the Project Team and its Volunteers.  This put the renovation project outside of our capability to execute until the School District completed lead abatement procedures.

The Red Dots were positive lead tests

We were able to answer many of the furnishing needs for the 
Linda Vista Leaders - SAY San Diego

The furnishings in the classroom had many miles on them, and deserved replacement.  The photos below show what the class furniture looked like.

Now, here is what we purchased on behalf of Linda Vista Leaders...

LIST OF PURCHASES

Executive Leather Chairs

Panasonic Stereo

Executive Desks

Bookcases